By Tyler Christiansen
STEMIA SW Junior High Options
This semester, STEM Innovation Academy launched the “pilot” group (pun absolutely intended) of our new Foundations of Flight course. Ten randomly selected grade 9 students had the opportunity to try this brand-new drone course out as their second semester option.
A Historic First (No, Seriously)
I normally like to keep things humble, but I also believe in celebrating groundbreaking achievements. As it turns out, our Foundations of Flight program is one of the first, if not the only, Junior High program of its kind in Canada (at least by a Google Search). While high schools and colleges around the country are also starting to dip their toes into aviation and drones, our junior high crew is already pushing the boundaries of what can be accomplished in a Jr High program.
10 Students. 10 Exams. 100% Success.
Over the last few months, these 10 students dove deep into the mechanics of flight, weather patterns, air legislation, flight safety, and countless hours in simulators and flying real world drone missions. It all culminated in them writing Transport Canada’s Basic Flight Operations Certificate exam.
The results? A perfect sweep.
- All 10 students wrote the exam.
- All 10 passed.
- All 10 are now officially certified drone pilots, legally cleared to pilot drones over 250g anywhere in Canada (where drones are allowed to be flown).
Driven by Knowledge, Not Grades
Here is the coolest part of this entire achievement: the students didn’t write this federal exam for a school grade. In fact, these tests weren’t even a mandatory part of the course. They didn’t do it for a GPA boost or to check off a report card box. They wrote Transport Canada’s official exam simply because they had the knowledge and wanted to prove it to themselves. They chose to be tested because they were proud of what they had learned.
As an educator, seeing students chase certification purely out of a passion for learning is the ultimate reward.
What’s Next?
As this historic first cohort prepares to move on to high school, they leave behind an incredible legacy. They proved that junior high students are capable of mastering adult-level, real-world certification.
Because of their resounding success, we are officially opening the throttle for next year. Foundations of Flight has already expanded and opened up to all Grade 8 and 9 students that are interested in drone flight for the 2026/2027 school year!
To our inaugural 10 pilots: thank you for setting the bar so incredibly high. Your hard work and dedication have set this course on a fast moving, skyward trajectory.
Read “Flying High” about the A+ for Energy Grant received for this program here.
Read “From Flight Maps to Video Games” about our students working with the SAIT Professional Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Certificate instructors.
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